‘APC is vehicle for change’

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described the All Progressive Congress (APC) as a vehicle for social change. He said that the leaders of the party will use their ingenuity to effect social change in the country.

He spoke at the meeting of the party in Abuja last week. Oshiomhole said those opposed to the formation of the party resorted to blackmail by saying that it is not different from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He the leaders of the party had demonstrated commendable courage at different times. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), he said, enthrenched the culture of discipline in Nigeria, with the introduction of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).

He also recalled that, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withdrew the security aides of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, he still ruled the state successfully.

Oshiomhole said the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, stood against all odds to sweep away the ruling party from the state.

He also said that the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, laid the foundation, which now makes the commission a dreaded organisation.

Governor Oshiomhole claimed that he has effected a huge political change by defeating the acclaimed political godfather of the state.

“I have mentioned only these few names just to remind Nigerians that we have within the APC family tested and trusted materials, which is the main difference between us and other people.

“But, let me also mention that when we talk about change, we want to change from a nation that relies on import to a nation that wants to produce; from a nation that sees the youths as a burden, to a nation that sees the youths as valued assets. We want to bring value to the quality of our human capital, rather than sheer number of our population.”

Oshiomhole said that, since the people own the power, APC must be connected to them.

“Allow me to congratulate the leaders of the three parties. And of course, the elders of the three parties that have come to form the APC and as well as my brother, who brought the authentic APC.

“ To use the word change, as a slogan, means it is something that has been properly thought over and carefully chosen. Therefore, you must go around for you to properly educate and sensitise our people. There have been all kinds of write-ups and analysis .

“We are different from others, if we are not different, we will have no reason to ask for change. They asked, who are our leaders and why should we be trusted? And I think, for all of you, who have come from different areas of the 774 local government areas, you have a message for them. From the ANPP, we have Modu Sheriff, we have Yerima . And for those with memory, you know that it requires courage, energy, conviction and vision for Yerima to be able to uproot certain forces in Zamfara; for him to assume the governorship of that state at a time when PDP badly wanted to take over Zamfara State.

“So, can we question the capacity of Yerima to drive change from that part of the country? Modu has lectured us that his life is synonymous with opposition. He has demonstrated that he doesn’t want to go with the wind in the areas of what he believes in. It takes courage, honour and conviction to choose to be different, even if that means to be isolated. Is that not a demonstration of character?

Oshimhole described Buhari as a man who made remarkable inpression in Nigerian during the short period he led the country. According to him, Buhari has demonstarted what it means to lead by example.

“We have here a man who is respected, acknowledged appreciated across the 36 states of the Federation, a former Head of State, who showed that it is not how many months you rule, but what difference you make in power. Gen Muhammed Buhari demonstrated that Nigeria’s case is not hopeless; that when the leader is disciplined, the people will follow.

“Under six months, Nigeria under Buhari learnt how to queue, how to behave and how to respect the rights of the poor. So, you can see some coordinated attempts to demonise some of our most outstanding leaders with enormous electoral value. Therefore, when you go back and they ask the question, you must ask them to remember the General for the difference that he made”.

On Tinubu, who was unavoidably absent at the Abuja meeting, Oshiomhole said, in him, the party has a good fighter for the cause he believes in. “This morning, we are not privileged to have Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu here. We must remind ourselves that in Tinubu, we have a fighter. A man, who stood against a General and defeated him with bare hands. They were determined to take over Lagos. They changed the commissioner of police, INEC, electoral officers and they withdrew his ADC and yet, he defeated them in the battle for political supremacy. He used the power of the energy, creativity and the doggedness of a man to defeat those who were armed with armoured vehicles. In him, we have a fighter that we can depend on for change.”

He said he had to mention a few names in the APC to tell the world that in the APC, there are leaders who have been tested and trusted.

“ I only mentioned these few names, just to remind Nigerians that we have within the family of APC, tested and trusted materials to make the difference between us and other people.